Alabama Football will conduct its first scrimmage of the 2023 season in Bryant-Denny on Friday. As is customary the scrimmage will be closed to the public and to the media.
Nick Saban will provide a scrimmage review. Saban’s comments may provide valuable insight, but of course, they will come nowhere near full disclosure. Usually, a few intrepid souls having special access will carefully share observations through message boards.
All Alabama football fans have questions we would like to be answered. Not that a first spring scrimmage will be definitive. But as an indication of what might follow during the rest of spring and fall camp, any insight is highly valued.
With enough effort, I could probably come up with 20 or more questions I believe are key to a successful 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide season. For now, eight questions will suffice.
Alabama Football Spring Scrimmage Questions
- Key to the quarterback competition is added proficiency by Jalen Milroe in downfield throws. Milroe completed 58.5% of his 53 passes last season. A large number of those completions were under 20 yards. On longer throws, he was much less effective. Last season, Crimson Tide receivers might have been part of the problem, but Milroe must become more effective on 20-plus yard passes and show he is a consistent threat at 30-plus yards. Last season, 38, FBS QBs averaged eight or more yards per attempt. Bryce Young, despite his shoulder problem, averaged 8.76 yards. Jalen Milroe averaged 5.6 yards.
- Do either of the freshman QBs show signs of challenging for a QB2 role this fall? The QB room is believed to be in great shape with Milroe and Ty Simpson. But an injury to Milroe or Simpson would mean either Eli Holstein or Dylan Lonergan could be one play away from QB1. Can either of the freshman develop quickly enough to perform in such a situation?
- There has been frequent buzz about new Tide wide receiver, Malik Benson. Can he be the explosive, deep-threat guy Alabama football missed having last season?
- Speaking of player buzz, is freshman Caleb Downs worthy of a starting role at safety? Downs is being compared to Minkah Fitzpatrick.
- Some Alabama football fans believe Terrion Arnold would be an outstanding safety. Instead, he is a cornerback, opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry. How much has Arnold improved from last season?
- With Deontae Lawson out of the spring, who steps up as leaders at inside linebacker?
- Assuming Seth McLaughlin, Tyler Booker, J.C. Latham and Elijah Pritchett are likely offensive line starters, who among Darrian Dalcourt, T.J. Ferguson II and Kadyn Proctor have the best chance to start at guard? Or, at Center, might Dalcourt beat out McLaughlin? It is unlikely much will be learned on the offensive line starters until fall camp scrimmages.
- Will the first scrimmage show an expanded use of tight ends in the passing game? Fans wonder if transfer C.J. Dippre and Amari Niblack will find key roles in Tommy Rees’ play-calling.
The scrimmage will be situational rather than a game format. Normally, no stats are released, though Nick Saban might throw out some tidbits. No amount of clues gained will fully answer any of the eight questions.